[syn: coil, spiral, volute, whorl, helix]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Whorl \Whorl\, n. [OE. whorvil the whirl of a spindle; akin to
   AS. hweorfa the whirl of a spindle, hweorfan to turn; cf. OD.
   worvel the whirl of a spindle. See Whirl, n. & v.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. (Bot.) A circle of two or more leaves, flowers, or other
      organs, about the same part or joint of a stem.
      [1913 Webster]
   2. (Zool.) A volution, or turn, of the spire of a univalve
      shell.
      [1913 Webster]
   3. (Spinning) The fly of a spindle.
      [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
whorl
    n 1: a round shape formed by a series of concentric circles (as
         formed by leaves or flower petals) [syn: coil, whorl,
         roll, curl, curlicue, ringlet, gyre, scroll]
    2: a strand or cluster of hair [syn: lock, curl, ringlet,
       whorl]
    3: a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous
       series of loops; "a coil of rope" [syn: coil, spiral,
       volute, whorl, helix]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
41 Moby Thesaurus words for "whorl":
   cirrus, coil, contort, corkscrew, crinkle, curl, curlicue, eddy,
   evolute, gurge, gyre, helix, intort, involute, kink, meander, purl,
   ringlet, roll, scallop, screw, scroll, serpentine, slink, snake,
   spiral, swirl, tendril, turn, twine, twirl, twist, twist and turn,
   volute, volution, vortex, whirl, whirlpool, wind, worm, wring